Brutalized, Humiliated And Dehumanized: A Day At The Passport Office In Abeokuta | Sahara Reporters

Brutalized, Humiliated And Dehumanized: A Day At The Passport Office In Abeokuta | Sahara Reporters: On Monday the 11th April 2016, I walked into the Nigerian immigration service office in Abeokuta with my personal assistant around 11 am. I met a man who directed me to the entrance to meet one Mr Ogunnaike nicknamed 'Authentic'. He was to be approached for the passport renewal. Mr Ogunnaike, therefore, told me that a day service for receipt was N28,000 for a 32-page passport and it would be ready by 4 pm the same day. I obliged but asked that I saw a banner downstairs stating a lower price. It was explained that that was not for same day express service.

THE STATE, THE CHURCH AND NUISANCE!

According to the Black's Law Dictionary, 9th edition, nuisance is "A condition, activity, or situation (such as a loud noise or foul odour) that interferes with the use or enjoyment of property; esp., a non-transitory condition or persistent activity that either injures the physical condition of adjacent land or interferes with its use or with the enjoyment of easements on the land or of public highways...liability might or might not arise from the condition or situation"

No other definition could possibly better capture the situation at the Headquarters of the Lord's Chosen Church in Lagos last weekend when officials of the Lagos State government sealed off the church and prevented the worshippers from holding their usual Sunday service in the midst of garbage. Reports say that the action of the government was in order to prevent the outbreak of an epidemic in the area. I'd like to address a few issues arising from this rather embarrassing situation. 

First of all, it is shocking to know that a place where people go to worship and/or praise God every Sunday or daily as the case may be, would be in such deplorable state. The church is supposedly a place where "believers" go to spend time with the "Almighty", the "King of kings", the "Lord of lords", the "Alpha and the Omega". I don't know about any other "believer" but one would have thought that since Christians most often than not shout at the top of their voices "Cleanliness is next to godliness", that they would actually live by what they preach. One would expect that as a true Christian, the temple of the Lord ought to be a place where you find joy and happiness, peace, and health of mind and body. One would expect that as Christians, we should be happy to declare like the Psalmist in Psalm 19 of the Scriptures "I was glad when I heard them say 'let us go to God's house'". In centuries past as we read in the Bible, it was the greatest of privileges for anyone to be chosen to build a temple for Yahweh. Do we not remember the story of Nehemiah who resigned from his prestigious job to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple which was in a deplorable state? Do we not remember the story of David and Solomon who spared no funds in ordering the best woods and materials for the building of the Temple? What is wrong with our generation? The situation at the Lord's Chosen Church is just one out of the thousands that have not yet come to public attention...sorry, did I say "not yet come to public attention"? Are there no faithfuls in the church, are the worshippers in that church and many others like it sheep and goats? No! They are human beings, they are the "public". For chrissakes, this church has tens of luxury buses with which it conveys its members from all parts of Lagos to its services every Sunday. There is no doubt that its members are dutiful payers of tithes and sowers of seed; yet each Sunday, they fail to see that they are centuries far from their God as a result of their filthy environment. It is a shame! They not only neglected their environment, they contributed massively to the filthiness of it. Haba! Even to construct proper toilets for worshippers is a problem?

Secondly, Let us analyse the action of the Lagos State government. Have they done the right thing? Did they act within the ambit of the law? Were they right in sealing off the church and preventing worshippers from holding their Sunday Service? Why did they have to wait till now; did they just learn about this nuisance? These are but a few questions one would ask. There are some that may even argue that the government's prevention of the worshippers from holding their Sunday service is a direct violation of the constitutional provision of freedom of association  and worship. But let us not forget that there is a bigger picture...that of the 'purported' prevention of an epidemic which to me is a classic exploitation of the principle of public policy which when interpreted simply means, "for the greater good of the citizens of this State (who by the way have as much rights as you do, and deserve to enjoy healthy lives), we are shutting down your premises to prevent a health situation that we are probably not well equipped to handle until such a time you deem it necessary to purge yourselves of your filthiness"

Generally speaking though, the level of nuisance caused by our churches goes beyond that of filth. Following Black's law's definition, nuisance also includes loud noise. With all the churches we find everywhere and especially at residential areas, and with the sleepless nights I experience frequently in my house from the noise of "praise songs" blaring from the "Ahuja" speakers of the church just beside my house during their night vigil services, I am fully in support of the government's involvement in regulating the activities and locations of these churches. That is why I totally support the Enugu State government in their plan to demolish the Large temple of the Mountain of fire and Miracles Ministries erected on the popular Zik Avenue without appropriate approval. Afterall, The Church and the State should actually be partners in progress.

MUCH ADO ABOUT THE DAME

 That the wife of the President of Nigeria and the First Lady of the country, Dame Patience Jonathan is, and has been absent from the country for a period of six weeks is no longer news. That the presidency is dodgy about the state of her health is no longer news too. The insinuations that she travelled to Germany to undergo some kind of cosmetic surgery is stale also. It suffices to say that what would truly be classified as news probably hasn't occurred yet.

What amazes me though is the nature of Nigerians; they can never be pleased. It is true that the First lady is a public figure but I think whatever she chooses to do with her "personal" life is her own "personal" problem. I have heard so many people say that the office of the First Lady of the Federation is unconstitutional and it is an office created to embezzle public funds. If you ask me, I totally agree with this point of view and I have sat down and have pondered on her office and how it affects me as a tax paying citizen of this country.

 The first lady, even though a public figure, is not an elected official. I cannot remember her ever standing as a candidate in all the poor elections we have had in this country; she just happens to be the wife of the president. And as the wife of the president, I believe that her role in most cases is purely domestic. When she travels with the president for an international meeting, I am always almost certain that she is not expected to give a talk at such meeting. The president apparently needs her to perform other "chores". When she receives other first ladies of various countries, she only receives them in her capacity as a member of  the "Association of First Ladies", which Association if you ask me, is not different from the usual solidarity expressed amongst women who find themselves in the same line of business (take the Association of Market women for example). At best, her role as the wife of the President and the First lady is merely to give support to her husband. That is why I do not bother myself with her whereabouts when I do not see her for a period of time. I would definitely not feel the same way though, about my elected representative at the National Assembly who never attends a parliamentary sitting for many weeks and yet collects all the allowances arising therefrom. Nigerians! If you did not vote the First lady into any office, and if her office is unconstitutional and therefore non-existent, why do you now bother yourself about her whereabouts? Why the sudden interest.

This poor woman who has been the subject of ridicule and sarcasm since the days of her "umblerra" speech has continued to be in the spotlight for one reason or another. After that epoch speech during her husband's presidential campaign, the presidency was forced to instruct the nation's broadcast outfit to always edit her speeches before airing them. The first lady was also compelled to reduce the number of public functions she attends and refrain from making speeches thereat because of Nigerians and their bad mouth. When she was made a Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa State Civil Service even without an iota of knowledge of what goes on in her Ministry, there was another public outcry. A few months ago, she was accused of Buying 200 exotic cars for the African First ladies who came visiting her in Abuja. The accusation was so much that the Presidential image maker was almost fired for failing to conceal such "classified information". His failure led to the appointment of a bulldog with a certain reputation for devouring anyone that gets in the way of its master. Now the tongues of Nigerians are at it again. This time they have accused her of travelling to a foreign land for some cosmetic surgery.

I must point out though, that it is not the fault of Nigerians. It has been the practice of successive administrations to keep the well being or otherwise of the occupants of Aso Rock and their affiliates highly classified/top secret. Not too long ago, we had a president who suffered from some kidney problem so much so that he became unfit to rule the country but information about his health was hoarded more than the oil subsidy beneficiaries hoarded fuel products. Eventually he died in office even after some of our so-called religious leaders paid him a visit and came back to tell Nigerians that he was hale and hearty. Many years before that, our erstwhile, goggle-wearing head of state died in office. The circumstances surrounding his death is yet to be known. While some say he was offered apples by some exotic Indian dancers, others say he died from acute exhaustion arising from a hot session with some Indian prostitutes. After that, we had a first lady who "obviously" died after an unsuccessful cosmetic surgery. Till now, that story has not been refuted. Now we hear of the ill health of our dear Dame and the Presidency is trying to cover up the state of her health. Will you blame Nigerians for speculating the nature and state of her health? The presidency should know by now that when you leave Nigerians in the dark, they come up with theories.

For me, I see no shame or big deal in anybody falling ill; it is a natural course of life. The body is structured to work that way, so why conceal the state of your health especially as a public figure? Unless of course a certain person is squandering public funds trying to look prettier or the nature of sickness is so shameful that it cannot and should not be spoken of. I'm not even sure whether I should wish the Dame a quick recovery because the Presidency has said over and over again that she's not sick, she's "hale and hearty". If she is the way they say she is, then I presume she's on vacation somewhere and like I said before, since she's not an elected or appointed official and definitely not my Representative in the National Assembly, it is really none of my business. I wish her lots of fun wherever she's lounging.

THIS IS BARBARIC, DISGUSTING!!

The 4 students of UNIPORT who were brutally murdered.

 To say that I am disgusted and sick to my bone marrow at the level of inhumanity displayed by Nigerians on a daily basis is to put it mildly! Can someone please explain to me what exactly is happening in this country? Can anyone, just anyone prove to me that there is a government in place in this country? Is it a crime to be a Nigerian?

I have seen many horrible things in my life and I have heard of so much more - I have seen a man beat his wife to death, I have read of a man who stabbed his wife many times to death, I have heard of a bus driver who was coerced into running over a number of passengers by criminals, I have seen and read of jealous lovers who poured acid on their so-called lovers, I have heard of pastors who brutalised minors in the name of exorcism...I have seen many things...but never have I seen or heard or read of such inhumane act as I did a few days ago. Four good looking, promising, boisterous young men beaten, clubbed and burnt to death at the prime of their lives for allegedly stealing laptops and phones. Yeah, you heard me right, laptops and phones. It is so shameful, what we trade for human life!

What was even more disgusting and horrible is the fact that while their heads were being clubbed over and over again, some people stood by  watching, without anyone attempting to stop the heinous act. All the incidents I have mentioned above happened either at gunpoint or in isolation, with no one to caution the assailant or prevent the occurrence; but for this incident, they were simply heartless!  Now, that is my worry! Does it mean that there was not one person there who could plead on their behalf? Does it mean that life has stopped being sacred? Could it be that they were all enjoying what was going on?  As I watched the video of the killings which by the way was recorded by an even more heartless animal, I cried. You know, the kind of tears which you won't see on the outside because the brain and the heart are too terrified to even process them, that was what happened to me. I quickly recalled a passage in the Bible where a woman accused of adultery was about to be stoned to death and was brought before Jesus; but Jesus looking at the angry mob said to them "let he who is without sin be the first to cast a stone".

These people of Aluu Community in Rivers State not only watched the brutality meted on these young boys but also, enjoyed it! This goes to show the level of evil in the heart of man. I am scared. Scared because I do not know how far and how deep this wickedness has eaten into the hearts of Nigerians. For all I know, my neighbour who lives just beside me may see me dying tomorrow and he won't lift a finger to help. Yes, I am scared. The words of Shakespeare come to my mind: "The people of Aluu community have murdered sleep, they shall sleep no more"

How will this guy expect to sleep peacefully after doing this?

A lot of people have said in different fora that Nigeria is a failed State but I have always disagreed with that. It has been said also that we do not have institutions in this country but I have disagreed with that too. However, with this unfortunate incident, I totally agree with that fact. Where were the Police when all this was going on? Where was the civil defence corps? It must have taken over 2 hours for these murderers to arrest the boys, strip them naked, parade them round the town, beat them to stupor, before eventually smashing their heads and setting them on fire even while they were still alive. Where were the Police? Is it that there is no police station in the whole of that community? Is it that they were not aware of what was going on? Is it that not even a single person had the heart to call the police before things got out of hand? There are more questions than answers. I am disappointed in my country! I am disappointed...again, in the Nigeria Police force. Where were officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps who are supposed to be at the grass root and who so brazenly display "defending the defenceless" as their motto? Let it be known that when we say Nigeria is a failed State, we do not refer to the name "Nigeria". If the Institutions in the country have failed, then the nation has failed.

MAY THE SOULS OF THE YOUNG BOYS WHO WERE BRUTALLY MURDERED BY THE PEOPLE OF ALUU REST IN PEACE. AMEN!

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